<orthopaedics, rheumatology> Inflammation of a synovial membrane. It is usually painful, particularly on motion and is characterised by a fluctuating swelling due to effusion within a synovial sac.
Synovitis is qualified as fibrinous, gonorrhoeal, hyperplastic, lipomatous, metritic, puerperal, rheumatic, scarlatinal, syphilitic, tuberculous, urethral, etc.
(18 Nov 1997)